Airless
A technology that eliminates the risk of flats and rapid pressure loss and reduces environmental impact

VISION eliminates the need for air with a revolutionary structure capable of supporting the vehicle, while also delivering a safe, comfortable ride. Without air, flat tires and pressure loss are no longer an issue.

Today, this airless technology is embodied by Michelin’s Unique Puncture-proof Tire System (UPTIS) prototype, which is a combined airless tire and wheel assembly for passenger cars.

Presented to the world at the Movin’On June 2019 summit for sustainable mobility, UPTIS marks the first step on the road to making the VISION concept a technological reality.

A decisive technological breakthrough

Ushering in a new generation of airless solutions developed by Michelin, UPTIS represents a genuine technological breakthrough thanks to its unique structure and materials.

Combining an aluminum wheel and a flexible load-bearing structure made from glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), a product of Michelin’s expertise in high-tech materials, UPTIS delivers all the performance qualities associated with a Michelin tire.

Unlike existing airless solutions, which are only suitable for low-speed professional applications, UPTIS is perfectly suited to the needs of passenger cars.

A fundamental step toward more sustainable mobility, Michelin’s UPTIS prototype generates significant benefits for motorists, fleet owners and the environment

Greater peace of mind

Motorists no longer need to worry about the impact of road conditions on their tires, because UPTIS eliminates the risk of losing control of the vehicle or having to stop at the roadside with a flat.

Increased productivity

UPTIS enhances efficiency for fleet owners by reducing the risks of vehicle downtime and eliminating tire-related maintenance needs (pressure checks and tire inflation).

A smaller environmental footprint

Airless technology will drastically reduce the number of tires that are scrapped because of punctures.

NO PUNCTURES = LESS WASTE

Every year, 20%* of tires are discarded as scrap due to flats and rapid pressure loss (12%) or irregular wear and tear caused by poor tire pressure (8%), i.e., the equivalent of 200 million tires, or 2 million tonnes*. That’s 200 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower.

Tires scrapped
due to flats and
rapid pressure loss*

Tires scrapped
due to irregular wear and tear caused by under- or over-inflated tires*

Number of tires wasted that could be avoided thanks to UPTIS, i.e.,
200 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower*

*In-house “scrapyard” survey (2012-2015) based on a sample of 135,000 tires and extrapolated on a global scale (estimates indicate that one billion end-of-life tires are discarded each year).

An ideal solution for the mobility of tomorrow

Designed for passenger vehicles (including electric vehicles), Michelin’s UPTIS prototype is perfectly suited to the new generation of clean, autonomous mobility solutions. UPTIS delivers a high level of comfort and safety and eliminates the burden associated with tire maintenance, making it a key asset for emerging collective mobility applications, such as autonomous shuttles and shared vehicle fleets.

Bringing the future closer

In January 2023 Michelin and DHL signed a commercial partnership agreement to equip nearly 50 delivery vehicles with MICHELIN UPTIS by the end of the year. The first vehicles, Toyota Hiace, have already started to run on the streets of Singapore.

With the UPTIS prototype, Michelin is targeting the fleet market for light commercial vehicles intended for professional use and dedicated to last-mile deliveries.

“As a pioneer in green logistics, we are excited to partner Michelin to trial its airless tires on our vehicles in Singapore. This collaboration marks another milestone for us as we set out to green our last mile operations and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the DHL network globally.” Christopher Ong Managing Director at DHL Express Singapore

“Michelin UPTIS is a major breakthrough innovation in the tire field. This is a result of some fifty patents linked to the tire’s structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity for innovation in favor of safer mobility that is better for the environment. We are delighted that DHL is trusting Michelin to equip its fleet with the very first Michelin UPTIS tires." Bruno De Feraudy Director of OEM activities for the Michelin Group

Michelin Prototype Tire Testing at GM Milford

More than 3 million kilometers on the road

Currently, Michelin is the only manufacturer in the world to run an airless tire on open roads under real-world conditions as part of commercial contracts.

Beyond the placement on DHL's light vehicles in Singapore, UPTIS prototypes have been fitted on a fleet of vehicles in Las Vegas and Thailand to be tested under intensive use in real-life conditions. To date, these UPTIS prototypes have accumulated more than 3 million kilometers on the road.